Attorney Jerry D. Krumwiede Suspended from the Practice of Law

PHOENIX – June 25, 2014 – Attorney Jerry D. Krumwiede of Phoenix was suspended from the practice of law for violating the Rules of Professional Conduct.

The Presiding Disciplinary Judge of the Arizona Supreme Court accepted a consent agreement between Jerry D. Krumwiede and the State Bar of Arizona and ordered that he be suspended from the practice of law for one year.

In count one, Krumwiede failed to act professionally in the workplace, knowingly testifying falsely and engaged in conduct prejudicial to the administration of justice.

In count two, Krumwiede failed to properly communicate with the client and engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice by, among other things, filing a complaint with the incorrect name of the opposing party and failed to timely file a complaint.

In count three, Krumwiede failed to provide competent representation to a client, failed to abide by a client's decision, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to reasonably consult and communicate with his client, failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, brought a proceeding and asserted issues without a good faith basis in law and fact for doing so, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation and engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice.

In count four, Krumwiede failed to provide competent representation to a client, failed to abide by a client's decision, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to reasonably consult and communicate with his client, failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests and engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice.

In count five, Krumwiede failed to abide by a client's decision, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to reasonably consult and communicate with his client, failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests and intentionally refusing to provide his client a copy of a letter proving his failure to take efforts in the client’s case.

In count six, Krumwiede failed to abide by a client's decision, failed to act with reasonable diligence, failed to reasonably consult and communicate with his client, attempted to make an agreement prospectively limiting lawyer's liability to a client for malpractice, failed to take steps to the extent reasonably practicable to protect a client's interests, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation, engaged in conduct that was prejudicial to the administration of justice and repeatedly berated and threatened his employee/client.

In count seven, Krumwiede brought a proceeding and asserted issues without a good faith basis in law and fact for doing so, failed to make reasonable efforts to expedite litigation, knowingly made false statements of fact or law to a tribunal and failed to correct the false statements such that Respondent was assessed attorney's fees and costs, obstructed opposing party's access to evidence, engaging in inappropriate questioning during the opposing party's deposition, engaged in conduct that is prejudicial to the administration of justice, engaged in unprofessional conduct and failed to pay a Special Master as ordered by the Court.

Krumwiede's suspension was effective on March 3, 2014. He was ordered to pay $1,911.10 to the State Bar of Arizona for costs and expenses incurred during its investigation. Upon reinstatement, he will be placed on supervised probation for a period to be determined.

Consumers may report attorney misconduct by calling the State Bar of Arizona Attorney/Consumer Assistance Program (A/CAP) hotline at 602.340.7280.

About the State Bar
The State Bar of Arizona is a non-profit organization that operates under the supervision of the Arizona Supreme Court. The Bar includes approximately 17,500 active attorneys and provides education and development programs for the legal profession and the public. Since 1933 the Bar and its members have been committed to serving the public by making sure the voices of all people in Arizona are heard in our justice system.